1. Lack Mental Health Services in Rural California Counties
Genevieve Young
CHHS 302

2. Scope of the Issue
85% of federally designated shortage areas are in rural communities
Healthy People 2020 identify mental health as a key priority
Mental health ranks 4th among the health concerns that rural communities face
Children and families who live in rural communities often lack the mental health care that urban communities offer and in order to bridge the gap we must implement telemental health programs to connect patients with mental health professionals.

3. Challenges in Providing Care
Accessibility
Acceptability
Availability
Lack of adequate services
2/3 of rural counties do not have basic mental health services (Fenell, 2005).
Travelling Distance
Lack of Insurance
Cultural Stigmas
Decreased Anonymity

4. Consequences of Inadequate Service
Rural Individuals enter care later
Enter care with more symptoms
Require more expensive and intensive treatment (NAMI, 2003).
Higher suicide & depression rates(Gamm et al, 2003).

5. Implementing Telemental Health
Develop a Telemental health resource center
Create a web directory
Increase grant funding
Build upon current telemental programs

6. Call to Action

7. Evolving interactive practice. Am J PubliHealth.
References
Gamm LD, Hutchison L. (2004). Rural Healthy People 2010.
Evolving interactive practice. Am J PubliHealth. 
Fenell, D. L., & Hovestadt, A. J. (2005). Rural mental health
services. In Handbook of mental health services for children, adolescents and families